Friday, July 29, 2011

UPSON S.O. , LAMAR S.O. AND ROCK HILL FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED. THE RESIDENCE OF ANGELA AND KERRY BROWN, WHO WERE NOT AT HOME WHEN IT STARTED. DAMAGE TO THE MASTER BEDROOM, MASTER BATH, AND ROOF DAMAGE.

Thursday, July 28, 2011

UPSON-LEE NORTH AND UPSON-LEE SOUTH MADE AYP IN 2011,ACCORDING TO THE FIRST RELEASE OF AYP DATA FROM THE GA. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. THE 9TH YEAR CONSECUTIVE YEAR FOR UL NORTH AND THE 8TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR FOR UL SOUTH. UPSON -LEE MIDDLE SCHOOL MADE AYP IN 9 OF 12 CATEGORIES AND SUPERINTENDANT DR. MAGGIE SHOOK STATED THAT,BASED ON THEIR INITIAL CALCULATIONS OF RETEST DATA, THEY ARE CONFIDENT THE THE MIDDLE SCHOOL WILL MAKE AYP FOR 2011 ONCE THE FINAL REPORT IS ISSUED NEXT MONTH. UL HIGH SCHOOL MET 5 OF THE 10 AYP CRITERIA AND DID NOT MAKE AYP FOR THE 2ND CONSECUTIVE YEAR. ULHS MISSED THE 85% TARGET GRADUATION RATE, POSTING A 2011 GRADUATION RATE OF 67.3%. ACCORDING TO GA DOE,LESS THAN 30% OF ALL GEORGIA PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS MADE AYP IN 2011.

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

AT THE JULY 26 MEETING, THE THOMASTON-UPSON BOARD OF EDUCATION,ACTING ON SUPERINTENDANT DR. MAGGIE SHOOK’S RECOMMENDATION, APPROVED JANA MARKS AS THE SCHOOL SYSTEM DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL EDUCATION AND JULIE ENGLISH AS THE DIRECTOR OF ULPK,STUDENT SERVICES AND ASSESSMENT AND COORDINATOR OF SYSTEM FINE ARTS. DEBORAH KEANE, THE SYSTEM’S SPECIAL EDUCATION DIRECTOR FROM JULY 2006-JULY 2011, HAS ACCEPTED THE POSITION OF DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL EDUCATION IN HENRY COUNTY.

THE U.S. POSTAL SERVICE HAS TARGETED 45 POST OFFICES IN GEORGIA FOR CONSIDERATION FOR CLOSING AND THE ROCK POST OFFICE IS ON THE LIST. THE JUNCTION CITY POST OFFICE IN TALBOT COUNTY IS ALSO ON THE LIST. THE POSTAL SERVICE SAID CLOSING 3700 POST OFFICES ACROSS THE U.S. WILL SAVE $200 MILLION.

Monday, July 25, 2011

THE BOOK-KEEPER FOR THE NUTRITION PROGRAM OF THE THOMASTON-UPSON COUNTY SCHOOLS HAS BEEN ARRESTED AFTER OVER $31,000 WAS MISSED.MAJOR DAN KILGORE OF THE UPSON SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT SAID 36 YEAR OLD DE ANN SCRUGGS HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH THEFT BY DECEPTION AND MULTIPLE COUNTS OF CREDIT CARD TRANSACTION FRAUD. MAJOR KILGORE SAID SHE WAS ALLEGEDLY USING SCHOOL SYSTEM PETTY CASH AND USING A SYSTEM CREDIT CARD FOR PERSONAL PURCHASES. SHE REPORTEDLY RESIGNED HER POSITION, MONDAY MORNING.

GBI AGENT SAM BAITY TOLD TGA NEWS THE INVESTIGATION CONTINUES IN A CASE OF ALLEGED ILLEGAL DUMPING INTO THE CITY OF THOMASTON SEWER SYSTEM. THE UPSON BEACON REPORTED IN MARCH, FORMER CITY EMPLOYEES ACCUSE AGRI-CYCLE OWNED BY RICHARD HARVILL OF ILLEGALLY DUMPING LANDFILL WASTE INTO MANHOLES. HARVILL HAS DENIED THE ALLEGATIONS, AND SAYS HE HAD AN AGREEMENT WITH CITY HALL TO DUMP LANDFILL WASTE AT SITES DESIGNATED BY CITY HALL. AGENT BAITY SAID THE CASE MIGHT NOT BE READY FOR THE AUGUST UPSON GRAND JURY BUT COULD BE PRESENTED IN NOVEMBER.

UPSON COUNTY PROBATE JUDGE GARY HAMBY SAYS HE IS LEAVING HIS OFFICE AT THE END OF DECEMBER, A YEAR EARLY. HE WILL SWEAR-IN DANIELLE MCRAE AS ASSOCIATE JUDGE ON WEDNESDAY. JUDGE HAMBY SAYS HE WILL BE 65 ON WEDNESDAY AND ITS TIME TO GO. AS ASSOCIATE JUDGE MS. MCRAE CAN PRESIDE IN TRAFFIC CASES AND HANDLE PROBATE CASES.SHE PLANS TO RUN FOR PROBATE JUDGE NEXT YEAR,

Thursday, July 21, 2011

AT A CALLED MEETING TUESDAY, THE THOMASTON-UPSON BOARD OF EDUCATION NAMED MICHAEL HOFFMAN , DIRECTOR OF THE LEARNING ACADEMY, ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT UL HIGH SCHOOL,REPLACING RICHARD HOWARD WHO IS LEAVING FOR A POSITION AT ANOTHER SYSTEM. FAYE WILLIAMS WAS APPOINTED DIRECTOR OF THE LEARNING ACADEMY AIMED AT REDUCING DROP-OUTS.

CIVIL OR CRIMINAL—THAT’S THE QUESTION UPSON S.O. AND THE GBI MUST ANSWER ABOUT SUB-CONTRACTORS OWED $330,000 FOR WORK ON THE NEW TEMPLE OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS ON 36 EAST. THE SUBS CLAIM THE GENERAL CONTRACTOR FRAILEY ASSOCIATES/PAC MAC CONTRACTING OF LAWRENCEVILLE,GA. HAS BEEN PAID $1.7 MILLION BY THE CHURCH BUT IT CLAIMS THE SUBS DID SHODDY WORK SO IT DOES NOT HAVE TO PAY. THE UPSON BUILDING INSPECTOR’S OFFICE TOLD TGA NEWS EVERYTHING INSPECTED SO FAR MEETS CODE. THE SUBS MET THURSDAY WITH UPSON S.O. AND THE GBI. FOR MORE ON THIS STORY LISTEN TO FUN 1021FM.

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

CHARLES E.COX JR., ATTORNEY FOR LANCE MCDANIEL CONFIRMED TO THE TELEGRAPH THAT HIS CLIENT PERFORMED PAINTING WORK FOR THE THOMASTON HOUSING AUTHORITY,BUT HE SAID EVIDENCE IN THE CASE WILL SHOW THE AUTHORITY WAS AWARE OF IT. BRIAN JARRARD, ATTORNEY FOR DARLENE MCDANIEL SAID WHEN SHE WAS NAMED EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SHE APPROACHED THE BOARD ABOUT EXISTING PAINTING CONTRACTS AND ASKED IF THEY SHOULD BE CONTINUED. THE ATTORNEY SAID THE BOARD INSTRUCTED HER TO CONTINUE THEM UNTIL THEY EXPIRED, AND LANCE MCDANIEL DID NOT DO ANY MORE PAINTING AFTER THEY EXPIRED. FOR MORE ON THIS STORY TUNE TO FUN 101FM.

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

THE DIRECTOR OF THE THOMASTON HOUSING AUTHORITY, HER HUSBAND AND ANOTHER MAN ARE CHARGED WITH STEALING MONEY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.A FEDERAL GRAND JURY IN MACON INDICTED DARLENE MCDANIEL,43, HER HUSBAND LANCE MCDANIEL,57 AND STEVEN WAYNE WILLIAMS, 49, A 30 COUNT INDICTMENT. U.S. ATTORNEY MICHAEL MOORE SAYS DARLENE MCDANIEL STEERED FEDERAL FUNDS TO A PAINTING COMPANY RUN BY HER HUSBAND. THE INDICTMENT ALSO SAYS SHE ALSO STOLE FEDERAL MONEY BY USING A HOUSING AUTHORITY CREDIT CARD FOR PERSONAL USE. THE U.S. ATTORNEYS OFFICE DID NOT SAY HOW MUCH MONEY WAS INVOLVED.

Monday, July 18, 2011

TAMEKA DANELLE SMITH, 36, THE OWNER OF GOOD TIMES LOUNGE AT 1108 SOUTH CHURCH STREET WAS ARRESTED. SMITH OF 405 BARNESVILLE STREET WAS CHARGED WITH SALE/CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL AFTER HOURS AND CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL BY CUSTOMERS OUTSIDE THE ESTABLISHMENT. OFFICER ROBERT ELLINGTON WILL REPORT THE ARREST TO THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO.

Friday, July 15, 2011

STEVE DANIEL OF THOMASTON, CURRENTLY DIRECTOR OF GA. QUICKSTART FOR KIA MOTORS TRAINING HAS BEEN APPOINTED PERMANENT PROVOST OF SOUTHERN CRESCENT TECHNICAL COLLEGE. STEVE HAS SERVED AS VICE PRESIDENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AT FLINT RIVER TECHNICAL COLLEGE.

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

AT WEDNESDAY’S MEETING, COMMISSIONER CAROL BASS SAID SHE HAD HEARD JAMIE WEISS HAD ENTERED A PLEA IN THE MURDER CASE UNDERWAY IN PIKE SUPERIOR COURT. COUNTY ATTORNEY ROB MORTON TOLD HER WEISS ENTERED A BLIND PLEA AND A SENTENCING HEARING IS UNDERWAY BEFORE SENTENCING. COUNTY MANAGER BILL SAWYER SAID THE WEISS CASE COULD COST PIKE COUNTY $100,000. HE IS CHARGED WITH THE MURDER AND ROBBERY OF CATHERINE KING, 74 IN 2006.

THE UPSON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HAVE CHOSEN AN OFTEN DISCUSSED SITE FOR THE NEW SPORTS COMPLEX. AT TUESDAY’S MEETING, CHAIRMAN MAURICE RAINES ANNOUNCED THE SPORTS COMPLEX WILL BE ON A 60 ACRE SITE OWNED BY THE COUNTY OUT HIGHWAY 74 EAST, JUST EAST OF THE OLD WORK CAMP. CHAIRMAN RAINES TOLD TGA NEWS HE WANTS TO DEVELOP 35 TO 40 ACRES FOR PRACTICE AND GAME FIELDS, WITH HOPES TO ATTACT MAJOR TOURNAMENTS. THE BOARD HAS $700,000 IN SPLOST FUNDS FOR THE PROJECT.

Monday, July 11, 2011

ACCORDING TO THE GA. STATE PATROL, A TWO YEAR OLD BOY WAS STRUCK BY A CAR ON HANNAH’S MILL ROAD. THE YOUNGSTER, LANDON HUGHES WAS CHASING A DOG THAT RAN INTO THE ROAD. HE SUFFERED A CUT TO THE FOREHEAD AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE E.R. BY UPSON EMS. THE MOTORIST WAS SARAH FAY PHILLIPS OF HANNAH’S MILL ROAD DRIVING A 1998 LINCOLN.

ACCORDING TO STATE SENATOR LEN WALKER A ROAD DEDICATION CEREMONY IS SCHEDULED WEDNESDAY, JULY 13TH, 3PM FOR THE COACH JIM CAVAN MEMORIAL PARKWAY ON A PORTION OF HIGHWAY 74 EAST. THE CEREMONY WILL TAKE PLACE ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE COURTHOUSE SQUARE. SENATOR WALKER, WHO PLAYED FOR COACH CAVAN AT R.E.LEE MOVED A RESOLUTION THROUGH THE GA. GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO PROVIDE FOR THE ROAD DESIGNATION. THE GA DOT WILL PROVIDE SIGNAGE.

SPALDING COUNTY PROBATE JUDGE DEE SIMONTON HAS APPOINTED DWAYNE GILBERT AS THE INTERIM SHERIFF, WITH THE PASSING OF SHERIFF DEE STEWART. GILBERT SERVED AS SHERIFF FOR 17 YEARS, AND 6 YEARS AS A U.S. MARSHALL. HE WILL NOT BE A CANDIDATE FOR SHERIFF IN THE SPECIAL ELECTION, ACCORDING TO THE PROBATE JUDGE.

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

SPALDING COUNTY PROBATE JUDGE DEWITT SIMONTON HAS ANNOUNCED THAT A SPECIAL ELECTION FOR SHERIFF WILL BE HELD SEPT. 20TH. SHERIFF DEE STEWART DIED LAST WEEK RELATED TO INJURIES FROM A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT. AS PROVIDED BY GA. LAW THE PROBATE JUDGE WILL APPOINT AN INTERIM SHERIFF. OUT OF RESPECT FOR SHERIFF STEWART, JUDGE SIMONTON WILL NOT TAKE ANY ACTION UNTIL THURSDAY AFTERNOON, FOLLOWING THE FUNERAL.

Friday, July 1, 2011

A WELL-KNOWN SENIOR CITIZEN IN UPSON COUNTY, JOSEPH HAMMONDS OF 58 WINDSWEEP FARM ROAD IS SCHEDULED FOR SURGERIES AFTER HE FELL OFF HIS TRACTOR. FRENDS TOLD TGA NEWS , MR. HAMMONDS UNDERWENT EYE SURGERY THURSDAY IN MACON AND HIP SURGERY WAS SLATED FOR FRIDAY. ITS SPECULATED HE WAS ON HIS TRACTOR WHEN HE NOTICED HIS HOUSE WAS ON FIRE, WHICH MIGHT HAVE CAUSED HIM TO FALL. THE GARAGE AND STORAGE AREA AND HIS CAR HAD FIRE DAMAGE, A FIRE THAT COULD HAVE STARTED FROM THE WATER HEATER.